Fluorescent Mineral Database

A new secret project! Trying to create a nice Fluorescent Mineral Database (FMDB), which would be searchable by mineral, locality, and luminescence properties. Also making it easy for people to contribute with their own specimens!

Color Shifting Phlogopite on Calcite, with Diopside - Afghanistan

Contributed by: Mark Cole
Date: Apr 6th, 2026
Locality: Sar-e-Sang, Kuran wa Munjan District, Badakhshan, Afghanistan (See on Mindat)
Size: 2.5 x 2 x 3 inches
Weight: 13.9 oz

Description:
Minerals from Afghanistan fascinate me. This piece has phlogopite crystals which have multi-wave response under SW/MW/LW. They shift from a bright yellow fluorescence to a butterscotch color. The very bright white fluorescing diopside crystals against the red fluorescing calcite matrix simply adds to the explosion of color. There are also several afghanite crystals which exhibit some orange fluorescence under LW.

Originally posted by Mark Cole on Nature's Rainbows in 2016.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Fluorescence under midwave UV light.
Fluorescence under midwave UV light.
Fluorescence under longwave UV light.
Fluorescence under longwave UV light.
Normal light.
Normal light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Calcite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

  • Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red
  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red
Phlogopite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
  • Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Orange
  • Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Orange
  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Yellow
Afghanite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
  • Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Orange
Diopside (Mindat) (RRUFF)
  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: White

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